1963 Chrysler Turbine race car

[wisdonm]

1963 Chrysler Turbine car.

Ghia, in Italy, made 55 of these bodies that were shipped to Chrysler USA to have their third generation turbine engine, Torque-Flite three speed automatic transmission (less torque converter), and the rest of the drive train installed. All were painted Turbine Bronze metallic except for two white prototypes. One of these two stared in the 1964 movie, The Lively Set. The turbine made 130 HP @ 3,600rpm and 425 lb-ft @ 0 output shaft rpm

Chrysler lent 50 of these cars to 203 families for three month evaluations. Because these bodies were made in Italy, there was an import duty tax due on them. After the evaluation period, Chrysler felt the cars were no longer needed and refused to pay the tax. In 1967, the Federal Government made Chrysler crush 46 of 55 the cars.

This particular white one starred in the 1964 movie about racing, The Lively Set, staring James Darren and Doug McClure.

Edited September 28, 2010 by wisdonm

[Joe Handley]

Looks good!

[Guest]

Great job! Where did you get the decals? How about some engine and chassis pics?

[wisdonm]

This was a Johan curbside kit. It has no engine.

The curbside kit does include the decals which the full kit doesn't. However the letters in the names are scrambled and you have to un-scramble them.

[David G.]

Very cool build. I didn't know about the movie, I'll have to keep an eye out for it. It'd be fun to see one of these cars in action.

[samdiego]

Don't forget Pamela Tiffin. Didn't she dump a milkshake into the carb stacks of Darren's hot rod when he wasn't lookin to "strand" them in the middle of nowhere?

[W-409]

This is very very cool build! It looks like taken straight from the track. Haven't seen these Turbine Cars often and it's very rare thing to see race car version of this car. But however, that paintjob looks very nice on it and those decals are good looking too, and they fit very well. Like that interior very much too!!! This looks very good at all, that first pic is my favourite. Those wheels and tires are looking very good with this car and that frontend is nice too, I mean that grille part. Awesome!!!

[philo426]

Looks good! The Turbine is a great kit!

[rustybill1960]

Nice build

Interesting history bits too

i have two in my stash, stock build and one for Batman

Thank You for sharing

Later

Russ